Queenstown to Wanaka, and beyond!

Queenstown is best compared to Banff. Seriously, only with no snow on the streets. The entire town seems to be made up of ski shops and bars. It is also the home of bungy jumping -- something which I have never had any desire to try. I'd rather go skydiving. Don't ask me why, but jumping out of a plane with a parachute makes more logical sense than jumping off a bridge with a piece of elastic tied to my legs. So instead, having a day to spend, I went on a horse trek in Glenorchy, about 40 minutes away from Qtn. Being the total nerd that I am, I did the Ride of the Rings, which goes around Paradise station to various locations from LOTR (and, more recently, Prince Caspian and Wolverine). Janet, whom I'd met in Te Anau, happened to be in Queenstown at the same time, and even at the staying at the same hostel, so we went for dinner the night we arrived (by different buses). She did go bungyjumping while I was trotting around, and loved it.

I left the morning the Winter Festival was starting in Queenstown, which I was sad to miss, but as I hadn't really planned ahead, there were no beds left to be had, so I hopped the bus to Wanaka with hopes of going skydiving. Unfortunately, the ceiling was about 1000ft, so they weren't going up at all. On the plus side, I saved a little money. Wanaka is supposed to be a really fun town, but I have to admit that I didn't really take advantage of it. Instead, having been upgraded to a 4-bed, bunk-free, ensuite room with cable which I had all to myself, I did my laundry (I'd run out of underwear), and bought a pair of wool socks. (Strangely, my packing for this trip seems to have fallen short only in the matter of socks.) Wanaka also has a fun little movie theatre which is a converted barn and all the seats are sofas and comfy chairs, so, on impulse, I went to see Wolverine (and a mostly naked Hugh Jackman!).

From Wanaka, it was most of a day on the bus to Franz Josef glacier, one of only about three temperate glaciers in the world. I didn't arrive until late afternoon, but booked myself on a day-long glacier hike for the following morning. The tour outfit provides all the gear you'll need, from rain jackets to boots to crampons. This is easily one of the highlights of my trip so far. Because it was a full day we got much farther up on the ice than the half-day hikes, and into the clean blue ice areas. We also lucked out in having a sunny day, so the temperature was really quite mild on the glacier: the guides were all wearing shorts. The glacier comes down the valley surrounded by waterfalls and temperate rainforest, with keas flying overhead. It was spectacular. I can't really over much more at this point -- you'll have to see the pictures (as soon as I can upload them).

From Franz, I took a gruelling 10 hour bus to Nelson, at the northern edge of the South Island. Nelson's a pretty town, though nothing too special. I spent two nights, and wandered around during my free day there. I had hoped to go to Abel Tasman Nat'l park, but I arrived too late to book it, and, quite frankly, it was good for my budget to have a cheaper day.